Friday, May 25, 2012

We all love The Walking Beast but it is not designed to last forever. A lot of people ask me, “what next?” and I have something on my drawing board that I cannot wait to start to build. Starting in October 2012, I will be designing and building a prototype of the next generation Moltensteelman giant walking machine.This one will be a six-legged machine that I am calling the Hexapod until I find a better name.

With six legs, the Hexapod will be more efficient and offer a smoother ride with a faster walking gate. It will have a sidestep capability so that the legs can navigate corners and steering.I am a mechanic, not a computer programmer, so this machine will initially be mechanically driven.This is so I can figure out the linkage and get everything working correctly before investing in the expense of computer-controlled hydraulics.

The Hexapod prototype will be the start of a bigger and better future-generation Walking Beast.If we win the $10,000 Boca Bearings contest prize, I would use that money to pay for the aluminum, custom machined cam lobes, and a whole lot of v-roller bearings.

Update: The Walking Beast has won the month of May in the Boca Bearing innovation contest. At the end of the year all projects with a winning month will be considered for 3rd, 2nd and 1st place.

Aluminum prototype leg for the mech chariot

Update: 10/23/2012
Currently working on a new linkage system for the mech chariot and the hexapod. We will use the chariot for testing and improving the linkage that will be used for the hexapod. Hoping to have a video up sometime in December.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

The Walking Beast will be make an appearance at the Pioneer Family Festival coming up May 18th, 19th and 20th at beautiful Clackamette Park in Oregon City. We'll have The Walking Beast on display on Friday, and joining the Oregon City Teddy Bear Parade Saturday morning 10:30 a.m. Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday we'll be operating and talking to fans at this great family fun event put on by the Oregon City Optimists club and other local organizations.

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About Me

Martin Montesano brings years of metal fabrication and mechanical expertise to life as master creator Moltensteelman. He built The Walking Beast to explore his fascination with robots and walking machines and he has expanded that vision to include new mech creatures and flame effects. Martin works hard, dreams constantly and spends many hours on research and experimentation before taking tools in hand to create a project.